Role of Computed Tomography in Measuring Peritumoral Fat Tissue for Preoperative Staging in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Background In patients with gastric cancer, staging is conducted using computed tomography during diagnosis. Distinguishing between early-stage and locally advanced tumors is particularly crucial for guiding the patient's treatment. Accurate staging with computed tomography depends on various factors, with the area of peritumoral fat tissue being the most significant, ensuring a precise understanding of serosal involvement. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of peritumoral fat tissue in the accurate staging of patients with local and locally advanced gastric cancer undergoing surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 165 patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery between 2017 and 2023. The patients’ demographic data, pathology results, tumor-lymph node-metastasis stages, and postoperative complications were examined. Utilizing the computed tomography scans taken during diagnosis, peritumoral fat tissue was measured in cm². Results The mean value for peritumoral fat tissue was found to be 12.9 cm². According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, there was a significant correlation between the computed tomography staging and pathologic results of the patients with peritumoral fat tissue equal to or larger than 9.5 cm², with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 92% according to the Youden index (area under the curve: 0.923, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study has revealed that computed tomography can be used reliably in preoperative staging for patients with a peritumoral fat tissue area equal to or larger than 9.5 cm².